Alan B. Rubin, 1941 – 2018

Alan B. Rubin, formerly of U. S. EPA, lead author of the Part 503 regulations, died from lymphoma October 25th at the age of 77.

Alan B. Rubin, PhD, entered U. S. EPA when the water program was expanding dramatically because of the Clean Water Act. From 1984 until his retirement from EPA in January 2005, he was the lead staff person to the EPA Office of Science and Technology, Health and Ecological Criteria Division, in which he led the development of the Part 503 rule and its implementation. His responsibilities included refinement and implementation of multimedia / multi-pathway chemical risk assessments, development of microbial operational standards for the Part 503 rule, and communication of the Part 503 rule and its technical basis to the states and the general public to accelerate the rule’s implementation.

Alan was passionate about his work—and remained so in retirement. That passion runs to the very core of the science; for example, he was known to exclaim excitedly: “The periodic table! It’s so elegant, how it all fits together!” When he spoke about the Part 503 rule, his familiarity with every detail was evident. This was his life work. As Andrew Carpenter, former president of NEBRA, noted when introducing him at the Northeast Residuals and Biosolids Conference in 2013, at which the 20th anniversary of the Part 503 Rule was celebrated: “even in contentious meetings, Alan was always eager to engage on this topic.”

Alan is outlived by wife Hillary and three children. A celebration of his life was held November 19th at his favorite park: Meadowlark Gardens, Vienna, Virginia. Plans are being made with WEF and others to celebrate of Alan’s life at the WEF Residuals & Biosolids Conference next spring. See more about Alan and the Part 503 Rule in the NEWEA Journal Summer 2014.

NEBRA salutes Alan’s life's work, his passion, his integrity, and his good humor. 
And we wish the best for his family and friends. 

In peace.